I was at the dollar store buying some things for a friend's birthday the other day, and found some placemats, 2 for $1. I only wanted one, but picked up an extra because they were so cheap. I was sitting around at home, twisting it about, and when it was in a tube, I went 'woah, that might make a cool lamp!'
So another trip to the dollar store later, I came home with a veggies & dip serving tray, a SpongeBob night light, and some little metal flower stickers.
The final project:
And here it is lit up!
A quick wordy tutorial, as I forgot to take progress pics:
-I measured down each side of the placemat and made marks at 1" increments. I then punched holes at each (I heated a nail over a candle and pushed it through- the placemat is just thin plastic, and I'd lost my hole punch).
-I wove this together with a green leather cord I found in a box lying around here, and topped each weave with a metal flower sticker, to make it look like a flower with a green stem
-I took the SpongeBob plate off the front of the night light, attatched it to an extension cord, and stuck it in the dip section of the serving tray (secured with tape).
-I cut a nook in the placemat tube where the cord comes through
It could also be used without the tray (might look nicer on a table) but I like having the tray so that if I have it beside my bed, I can chuck my odds and ends on it (earrings, watch, change, etc).
And there you have it!
Total cost:
Placemat: 50 cents
Tray: $1
Nightlight: $1
Flower stickers: $1 for 10, I used 5
=$3.50 with stickers left over!
One more pic, 'cause it shows off the placemat nicely
